Totnes 1st XV 09 - 10 Season
Captain - Alexis Keen
Vice Captain - Jerry Hamilton
Manager - Darren Orchard
Totnes RFC v North Tawton Devon Junior Cup Qtr final Sunday 7th March
Totnes 1st XV played their outstanding Devon Junior Cup quarterfinal tie away to North Tawton on Sunday afternoon. Bright Sunshine and a bitterly north easterly breeze met both teams. The Chiefs went to the game in a buoyant mood following their last two matches which saw them regain top spot in the Devon 1 promotion league.
Having already played their opposition twice before Christmas Totnes knew they were going to face a charged up North Tawton side, having secured victories previously in what were tight games. Both sides showed enterprise in the first half, with the ball being spun out wide quickly, or probing kicks aimed at gaining territory. It was the Chiefs who had the first opportunity to get on the score sheet after the home side infringed at a ruck and gave Chris Hooper a kick from 40 yards out in front of the posts. With the wind at his back Hooper made no mistake in banging the ball home between the uprights.
A few minutes later Hooper found himself in a similar position, but the ball faded away to the left of the sticks to leave the score at 3-0 to Totnes. Further Pressure from Totnes saw the hosts pinned in their own 22, and pressure paid off when from an attacking scrum Mark Hooper sniped around the blind side to burrow over near the corner. Brother Chris did the honours with a fine conversion from out wide. With a few minutes remaining in the half, Totnes once again showed some attacking rugby with Tregelles making some storming runs into the heart of the home defence. Once again poor discipline from North Tawton saw Chris Hooper slot an easy attempt from in front of the posts, giving Totnes a 13 points to nil lead at half time.
The start of the second half saw the home side find another gear, and it was the turn of the Totnes side to defend. Some stalwart tackling from Tregelles and Smith in the centre saw tries averted, and a line of blue shirts stretched across the pitch kept the Totnes line intact. Frustration built on both sides and a string of penalties ensued, which Totnes used wisely to clear their lines, whilst the home team used their opportunities to try and batter a way through the away teams defence. The Totnes line held firm, and on a rare sortie out of their own half Chris Hooper pounced on a loose ball and showed his footballing skills to hack the ball up the pitch, fleet of foot he then won the footrace to touch the ball down, and score the final try of the game, which he then went on to convert. Totnes came out winners 20 points to nil, and now go on to fave Ifracombe in a the semi final in another away tie.
Adam Shore challengingat a line out
Andy Rive showing his defensive qualities
Chris Hooper on the attack
